Tenure Track Position - Physiology

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo – Biological Sciences Department in the Bailey College of Science and Mathematics is seeking applications for a full-time, academic year, tenure-track position in physiology, beginning approximately August 12, 2027. The department seeks an appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor; a higher rank may be considered in exceptional circumstances.

About the Role

Excellence in teaching, an active research and scholarship program, and departmental service are expected. The successful candidate will be committed to high-quality undergraduate and graduate education, teaching a variety of biology courses including non-major and large-enrollment offerings. They will implement a student-centered research program involving both undergraduate and graduate (master’s) students. The preferred candidate will have expertise in animal physiology, though specialization within physiology is open. The research area and model(s) should attract undergraduate and master’s-level graduate students at Cal Poly.

Faculty typically teach 2-3 lectures and/or lab courses per term, with opportunities to reduce this load through student research mentorship or extramural funding. Teaching assignments may include courses at all levels (introductory, upper division, and graduate) for both majors and non-majors, with particular needs in human anatomy and physiology, introductory biology, and upper-division physiology courses.

The successful candidate will engage in teaching, research/scholarship, and service, including cross-disciplinary collaborations with the Center for Applications in Biotechnology, the Regenerative Medicine master’s program, the Center for Coastal Marine Sciences, and other initiatives.

Cal Poly embraces a teacher-scholar model, expecting faculty to excel in teaching, produce scholarship, and contribute to service. The selected candidate will use creative teaching approaches, participate in peer-reviewed research, conference presentations, grant development, and publication. They will pursue a systematic program of research, curricular improvement, and service activities such as committee work, student advising, and industry relationship-building.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Biology, Physiology, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to student-centered learning and teaching.
• Evidence of (or potential for) high-quality teaching and research with students.
• Evidence of (or potential for) scholarly productivity.
• Evidence of (or potential for) promoting the well-being and advancement of students, colleagues, and the department.
• Ability to work with a diverse population, fostering a respectful, collaborative, supportive, and inclusive environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience and commitment to excellence in teaching undergraduate biology at the university level.
• Expertise in physiology compatible with or broadening the department’s research activities.
• Demonstrated teaching effectiveness in lower-division labs or lectures.
• Ability to establish and maintain a research program feasible at a primarily undergraduate institution.
• Experience supervising student research and master’s theses.

Special Conditions

• The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and must comply with CSU Executive Order 1083.
• A background check (including a criminal records check) is required following a conditional offer of employment.
• Cal Poly cannot deny employment based solely on criminal conviction history without an individualized assessment linking the conviction to specific job duties.
• Current employees offered positions requiring a background check will undergo screening for sensitive roles.
• Cal Poly is a smoke- and tobacco-free campus.
• Under the California State University Out-of-State Employment Policy, work must be performed within California, and faculty are expected to establish an on-campus presence.
• Cal Poly anticipates a possible transition to semester-based year-round operations (YRO), where full-time academic-year faculty may teach in two consecutive semesters (e.g., Fall/Spring) with potential for additional compensation in the third semester.
• Visa sponsorship for this position is not guaranteed and depends on institutional priorities, budget, and federal regulations.

Pay

The anticipated hiring range for an Assistant Professor is $97,788 - $107,628, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

About the Department

The Biological Sciences Department is the largest unit in the Bailey College of Science and Mathematics and one of the largest at Cal Poly, serving approximately 900 undergraduate and 50 graduate students. The department offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Biological Sciences, Marine Science, or Microbiology, along with courses for other majors and general education requirements. Annually, the department teaches approximately 125 courses to over 10,000 students, most with laboratory components.

The department includes 36 full-time tenure/tenure-track faculty, 6 full-time lecturers, 35-40 part-time lecturers/teaching associates, 25 student assistants, and 8 support staff. The department’s annual operating budget is up to $230,000, with additional university support totaling several hundred thousand dollars. Faculty research grants have totaled almost $7 million over the past five years.

More information: https://bio.calpoly.edu/.

About the University

Founded in 1901, Cal Poly is one of five comprehensive polytechnic universities in the nation, with approximately 22,000 undergraduates, 120 postbaccalaureate, and 900 graduate students. U.S. News and World Report has ranked Cal Poly #1 among public master’s universities in the western U.S. for 28 consecutive years. The university offers 66 baccalaureate and 27 master’s degrees, operating on a semester calendar as of August 2026.

Cal Poly is known for its "Learn-by-Doing" approach and is one of the 22 campuses of the California State University system. It holds extensive land resources supporting its educational programs and is located in San Luis Obispo, a city of 47,000 near the Pacific Ocean, midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.